| |
What was wrong with him? Reese felt really weird, and not in a good way. It felt like his heat was coming on, but that couldn’t be. He was using suppressants, and anyway, he didn’t remember the symptoms ever being this strong. His head was pounding, his sense of balance was off, and worst of all was the lust. How were you supposed to focus on studying when you ran around with a hard-on and this throbbing deep inside?
Ran around doing errands for the object of your desire, every whiff of his spice and every look at him making you harder and wetter for him?
This had to be what hell was like. Desire and need, unfulfilled, burning you to the point of pain. Damn shifters and their heat cycles, their primal urges that took over their lives. Although things had changed a lot since the first shifters appeared in history, and a lot had changed, this split into alphas, betas and omegas often seemed so unfair. Betas, at least, had a measure of independence. Not fertile, they were freer to pursue whatever career they wanted, form families without any expectations of offspring and none of the discomfort of heat cycles and having babies. In a world where women couldn’t bear children anymore, omegas had taken that role.
Not that Reese had any babies. Or would have any. The thought of getting pregnant by some random, violent alpha and then having to submit to him and marry him was just terrifying.
Anyway...
Stop complaining, Reese. Remember you need the money. You need the certificate. An omega without money and without a job is a free meal for the wolves.
No pun intended.
And yeah, he knew. Sometimes knowing what you had to do didn’t make it any easier.
Like, he had resigned himself to the fact that being around Tiberius meant he’d be aching for him every minute he spent in his presence—but then consoled himself with the thought that at least in class he wouldn’t be, and therefore could focus on the class.
Until he found out they shared a class. More than one, in fact. They shared two classes every day.
And though Tiberius often skipped class, for some reason, or found excuses to leave the classroom when Reese entered—why the hell would he do that, anyway?—it was still more than enough hours in the day and night that Reese had to spend in Tiberius’s glorious, sexy presence.
He both craved it and hated it with equal passion.
Like now, hurrying to procure for his alpha a starched white shirt because of some social function Tiberius had to attend, apparently—he rarely told Reese why he needed anything, though most of the time it was pretty clear, as in the case of booze—and black socks.
Who runs out of socks, honestly? Who depends on a Boi to run in the late afternoon and plead with shop owners not to close just yet so he can purchase for his alpha shirt and socks?
Tiberius de Crescent. That’s who.
Which found Reese jogging back into the Academy as the night fell and the sky darkened, panting and sweating, determined not to let Tiberius down and lose his job. His uncle Ailey had written to him only the previous day to let him know that the little monthly sum he’d promised wouldn’t be possible, as loan sharks had closed in and demanded every last penny Ailey had or they’d have him thrown into prison.
No choice. If Tiberius wanted shirts and socks, hell, if he wanted Reese to buy him a whole closet full of clothes or bring him the bells from the cathedral, Reese had to make it happen.
Damn spoilt alpha. Everyone at his feet, doing his bidding, not even asking questions. Spending his money like it was nothing, throwing it down the drain.
Damn him.
Dragging his feet, Reese made it to the alpha’s building just as his phone rang, Tiberius’s number flashing.
Shit.
He considered not replying, but that would only piss the alpha off more.
“Yeah, hi. Tiberius—”
“Where are you?” Tiberius barked into the phone. “I’ll be so fucking late.”
“I’m here, coming up—”
“If you were here, I’d see you. Where are you, Reese?”
“Getting into the elevator now.”
“Hurry the fuck up.”
Lips pressed into a line, anger making his hands shake, Reese put the phone away and made himself step inside the elevator and punch the third floor. Fuck him for treating him like this. Since that night when he’d asked that question Reese hadn’t even heard, Tiberius had been even more of an asshole than ever.
Fuck the spoilt brat.
Seething, hefting the bag in his hand, Reese stalked down the hallway to Tiberius’s door and knocked. If he choked on his anger, so be it. He had to pay his room at the end of the week, and he’d all but run out of money for food.
He could do this.
Just don’t punch the arrogant alpha, he told himself. Don’t, Reese.
The door swung open, but it wasn’t Tiberius behind it. Marked by his white-blond hair and green eyes, the faint scar on his face and his huge physique, that was Nero, Tiberius’s good buddy.
“About time,” he grunted, letting Reese enter. “What took you so long?”
Don’t punch any alpha, Reese told himself now. Not even his asshole friends. Hand over the stuff and go.
“Here.” He proffered the plastic bag. “Shirt and socks. Can I go now?”
“Not yet. Got any painkillers?”
“No, sorry.”
“Come inside.”
“I... It’s late. I need to study.”
Nero said nothing, entering the bedroom, and Reese found himself trailing after him. He’d never been inside Tiberius’s bedroom, and he was curious.
It didn’t disappoint. Huge king size bed in dark wood, massive closet, a desk with a leather armchair, heavy drapes at the window. Just one thing was missing.
“Where’s Tiberius?”
“Good question. Ty?” Nero called out. “Where the hell are you?”
A groan came from the bathroom.
Reese tensed. “Is he sick?”
Nero shrugged. “He has a headache.”
That had to be a hell of a headache, Reese thought, entering the bathroom after Nero and seeing Tiberius’s white face.
“Christ, man,” Nero muttered. “I thought you were feeling better.”
“I’ll be fine. Help me dress.”
“You know I can’t. I have to go. But Reese is here.”
“No, Nero.”
“Honestly, Ty, I can’t stay,” Nero said, “my father will string me up by the balls if I’m late. At least your father isn’t a monster. Look, I’ve tried calling Marcus but he’s vanished into thin air. Probably off fucking some asshole or other.”
“Go on, then,” Tiberius rasped, splashing water on his face. “Told you, I’ll be fine. Reese, you go, too. I’ll dress on my own.”
That was for the best, for many obvious reasons, and yet Reese hesitated as Nero grabbed his jacket from a chair and left the room, the door banging shut behind him.
Why wasn’t he leaving? He really shouldn’t stay.
Couldn’t.
It would be a mistake, he just knew it, but for some reason, his feet wouldn’t budge from the bathroom door.
“You’re still here,” Tiberius remarked after drying his face on a towel, shooting him a dark look.
Reese nodded.
“Why?” Tiberius whispered.
“You need help dressing. I’ll help.” He tried for an explanation that made sense. “I’m your Boi. You pay me.”
But of course that wasn’t the real reason, Reese reflected as he waited for Tiberius to speak. He wasn’t sure what the reason was. It had been a gut reaction, a split-second decision that had bypassed his rational brain.
“Come, then,” Tiberius eventually said, gesturing toward the bedroom. “This way.”
What was it then?
Reese thought about that as Tiberius sank on the edge of the bed, running his hands through his tousled dark hair, then gestured at a pressed dark suit hanging on the closet door. He’d never helped anyone dress before. Didn’t even know what sort of help Tiberius needed.
Maybe...
Maybe it was that he’d never seen the alpha so vulnerable before, he realized. And the mystery of the why was bugging him.
Then Tiberius started to undress and Reese’s brain screeched to a stop.
Whoa.
Forgetting what he was doing—unpacking the suit—he stared as Tiberius grabbed the hem of his T-shirt and whipped it over his head, baring his sculpted chest. Reese had seen it before, that night of the fateful question he’d answered without even hearing it first, but it was different tonight. Could be the accumulated lust, or the fact that they were alone, in a bedroom.
Tiberius’s bedroom.
Or that Reese had permission to touch, even if just to help Tiberius dress.
He was still staring. Firm pecs, defined abs, biceps that bulged, black ink winding around his muscular arms and spilling over his shoulders to his pecs, forming a stylized wolf.
He was magnificent.
Then he started unbuttoning his jeans and Reese swallowed hard. The bulge between the alpha’s legs was huge. As he pushed the jeans down, Reese knew that Tiberius was hard, his big cock outlined perfectly in his black briefs, tenting them.
He clenched inside in response. He wanted that huge cock inside him, impaling him, pushing deep... and he was soaking wet, the slick of his hole coating the inside of his thighs.
Yeah, this was a really fucking bad idea, but now he couldn’t just run out, could he? It wouldn’t be right.
Licking dry lips, he grabbed the suit, removed the plastic covering, and laid it out on the bed beside Tiberius.
“Are you feeling okay?” he ventured, to keep his mind and eyes off the sexy male beside him. “Nero said you’re not sick, so what’s wrong?”
“Just a tension headache. Makes me dizzy.”
The quiet words stopped Reese in his tracks. He turned to face Tiberius and crouched down in front of him. “Then shouldn’t you stay in bed?”
“I can’t.”
Reese waited for more, but nothing seemed to be forthcoming. Also, now he could look right into the alpha’s face, into those dark eyes, the soft shapely mouth, the sharp cheekbones, the square jaw. His hair, though styled in a faux-hawk, looked soft, begging to be caressed.
Reese almost jumped back to his feet, pulling his hands away before he allowed himself to touch. “Well, then, let’s get you dressed.”
All business, ignoring the maddening throb between his legs, he shook out the black dress pants and crouched back down to help those long, muscular legs into them. The spicy musk of the alpha hit him, a kick in the nuts, twisting up the need inside him. Gritting his teeth, he managed the task, then got up unsteadily to unpack the new shirt and help Tiberius in it.
He needed Reese’s help, he reminded himself. No matter what, Tiberius was dizzy and had to get ready to go, wherever it was he had to run off to.
The bulge between Tiberius’s legs was impressive, drawing Reese’s gaze like a magnet. Were alphas hard all the time? Was it normal that Tiberius’s cock was so big and stiff right now? He knew too little about such matters.
Tiberius lifted his arms, allowing Reese to put the shirt on him, and as he bent over him, Reese got another whiff of that mouthwatering scent. His sweat, he thought, his mind spinning. Pheromones. Alpha sex pheromones.
No alpha had ever smelled so good to him before. Reese wanted to lick his chest, lick him all over, rub himself on Tiberius like a cat.
Shit.
Not good.
Socks had to go on next, on strong, arched feet, and the black dress shoes resting by the bed. Reese did the laces, then looked up—right into the alpha’s heated gaze. It went through him like a white-hot blade, stopping his breath.
“Reese...” the alpha whispered, a flush on his cheekbones. He was heart-stoppingly beautiful up close, the combination of that handsome face, the soft lips, the wide shoulders straining his white shirt... It was too much to bear.
“You’re good to go,” Reese said, his voice shaking. He laid out the jacket on the bed, smoothed his hands over his own thighs, wiping away sweat. “All ready.”
He was rambling and had to stop.
He was leaving now. Really, he was.
But his alpha stood up and it was a sight to take one’s breath away. Devastatingly handsome, that was Tiberius de Crescent. Dangerously beautiful. Darkly perfect as he towered over Reese and moved toward him.
Big hands gripped Reese’s arms, hauling him against that tall, strong body. “Wait for me,” Tiberius rumbled. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. You can sleep here.”
“What? I can’t.” The thought alone was enough to turn Reese’s knees weak.
“Sleep in my bed. We need to talk.”
Talk? That was the last thing on Reese’s mind right now. He was staring at Tiberius’s mouth. His lips moved but Reese couldn’t make out words. He needed to taste them, feel them...
The hands released him, and Tiberius strode past him, and out of the room.
The bang of the door closing brought Reese back to his senses.
Holy shit, what was he going to do?